Historical European Architectural Styles: From Visigothic to Romanesque

Visigothic Architecture (7th Century)

• Key characteristics: Austerity, simplicity, portico, nave, transept, north/south portico, presbytery, apse.

San Pedro de la Nave, Zamora

• Greek or Latin cross plan within a rectangle
• Influenced by Greek and Roman precedents
• Small scale and spaces
• Reflects a simpler technique, indicative of a decline in craftsmanship
• Reassembled in a different location
• Naive or stylized sculptures
• Thick walls
• Lantern at the geometrical center

San Juan de Baños, Palencia

• Three naves
• Commissioned by King Recesvinto
• Monolithic interior columns
• Appendix (or side chapels)
• Pointed horseshoe arches
• Constructed with yellow sandstone ashlar
• Trident floor plan

Quintanilla de las Viñas, Burgos

• Latin cross plan
• Three naves
• One transept
• Features vegetal motifs
• Animal decoration

Asturian Pre-Romanesque Architecture (9th Century)

San Julián de los Prados (9th Century)

• Brick construction
• Basilical scheme
• Three-parted apse with barrel vaults
• Midpoint Roman arches
• Narthex
• Mural decoration featuring false arches
• Shows precedents from Visigothic architecture

Santa María del Naranco (9th Century)

• Compact stone volume
• Inclined roof
• Two independent floors
• Upper floor with barrel vault and transversal arches
• Symmetrical floor plan
• Corinthian capitals
• Buttresses
• Blind arches
• Rhythmical and vertical appearance

Mozarabic Style Architecture

San Miguel de la Escalada, León (10th Century)

• Three naves
• Three-parted apse
• Basilica scheme
• Thin columns
• Horseshoe arches
• Christian exterior with Islamic interior influences

Ermita de San Baudelio, Soria (11th Century)

• Single central column
• Eight ribs
• Lantern on top of the chapel
• Secret chamber between columns and ribs
• Decorated with mosaics and hunting scenes
• West side mezzanine supported by 15 columns

Byzantine Architecture

Nea Ekklesia, Constantinople (9th Century)

• Cross-in-square grid plan
• Basic typology
• Composed of four barrel vaults
• Five groin vaults, including the central dome (higher)
• Two porticos
• Treasury
• Sacristy

Hosios Loukas, Greece (10th Century)

• Greek decoration
• Vertical dimensions
• Robust construction
• Two churches in one complex: Virgin Theotokos and Saint Lucas

Carolingian Architecture

Palatine Chapel, Aachen (8th Century)

• Architect: Odo of Metz
• Chapel of Charlemagne's Palace
• Visigothic precedents
• Byzantine decoration
• Green and white marble
• Two floors
• Centralized octagonal floor plan and dome
• 16-sided ambulatory
• Westwerk at the entrance
• Two side towers with spiral stairs

Abbey of Corvey (9th Century)

• Cross-in-square type floor plan
• Massive, heavy building
• Central portal with two side towers
• East-to-west orientation
• Richly decorated with murals
• Brick, stone, and marble construction

Romanesque Architecture

Cathedral of Jaca (11th Century)

• Features a Chessboard Frieze
• Basilical floor plan
• Three naves
• Three semicircular apses
• Ribbed dome over squinches
• Protruding volumetry

San Martín de Frómista, Palencia (11th Century)

• Three longitudinal naves
• Crossing dome over squinches (octagonal lantern)
• Three semicircular apses with semicircular domes
• Stone composite walls and pillars
• Protruding volumetry
• Buttresses

San Isidoro de León (12th Century)

• Royal Pantheon where kings were buried
• Three naves
• Three apsidal naves, semicircular at the head
• Transept
• Fresco paintings on the ceiling
• Stylized faces
• Features a Pantocrator

San Millán, Segovia (12th Century)

• Small representation of Jaca Cathedral's floor plan
• Two porticos
• Four semicircular apses, one for the sacristy
• Three porticos